Bartender Wisdom: 'People Do Anything for a Bar Tab'

I was working at a law firm as a runner while I was in college. They had a Christmas party, and they needed people to bartend. That's how I got started.

People feel comfortable talking to me. They feel comfortable coming in here. Conversation with someone, over time, goes a very long ways — no matter what it is.

My shots, they depend on the person, because usually the clientele here — I know what they like. You make something original for that person only. But my margarita is my specialty. Fresh-squeezed orange. If you add that, it really enhances the flavor.

I can pretty much hear what people are saying on the other side of the bar walking by, and they'll be discussing what kind of drink they want. When I come up to them, I will already have one or two of them made and they're like, "How did you know that?"

I can read lips.

During Prohibition, a doctor could prescribe liquor to you. If people were seen having a drink or having a bottle, they'd say, "For medicinal purposes only." Whatever it took, just as long as the man could have a drink, I guess.

Everyone should be able to enjoy a drink in a public place. That's what it's about — being in public, meeting new people, old friends.

With alcohol,everybody loves one another. Afterward, they explain how they met. You can kind of see why.

People that get belligerent... We try to cordially invite them to never come back.

There's a correct way to cut someone off. You kill them with kindness.

Sailors — their tolerance is a lot higher than most people. They drink when they come in the bar, they drink when they go on the boat. They drink first thing in the morning, they drink last thing in the evening. They can definitely drink you under the table. At least the ones I've met.

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People do anything for a bar tab. We don't fall for that one.

Someone asked me, "If I show you the wildest thing you've ever seen, will you buy me a shot?" He did a shot of Cuervo, snorted the salt, and squeezed the lemon in his eyes. That's probably one of the wilder things I've seen.

Nobody in their right mind over the age of 25 would do that. I hope.

The best tip I've ever received was a thousand dollars. He just celebrated because his company went public.

Bill Murray. He lives here in Charleston. I introduced myself and gave him one of our t-shirts from upstairs. I'm six-foot-four, and he's taller than I am.

You should value every friend that you make — via drink or just by association.